TO: THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER
GREETINGS!
Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and nine, the 58th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.
Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.
Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.
GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,
DUKE OF LANCASTER.
As I've said before, I'm not the Queen's biggest fan, nor the biggest fan of the Royal Family in general, but that's not the point. The point is that today is a day to celebrate this wonderful County and it's people, it's culture, it's history and it's landmarks. A true land of beauty stretching from the River Duddon to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines. Don't believe what many tell you about the County now being smaller - Cumbria (parts of), Cheshire (parts of), Merseyside and Greater Manchester were all created as administration areas, nothing more. It's about time people realised that.
Still, many do and it's a day to wear your Red Rose with pride. Squeeze in a pint of Wainwright if you can, as well! And I'll leave you all with the following 'tale'...
An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando, thinking that he would start by working his way across the USA from South to North. On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he
noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "$10,000 per call".
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God.
The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
His next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God.
"O.K., thank you," said the American.
He then travelled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia,Boston and New York. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it.
The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to England to see if they had the same phone. He arrived in Lancashire, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "40pence per call."
The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
"Father, I've travelled all over America and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the US the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Lancashire now, son - it's a local call".
